DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte, July 13 (PIA) - The Office of Civild Defense-IX recognized that the Barangay Information Officers Network (BION) is key to strengthening risk communication in the grassroots.
"The role of BION is deemed valuable in strengthening risk communication through the proper dissemination of correct information in the grassroots level," said OCD-9 Regional Director Manuel Luis Ochotorena, who is also the chairperson of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC)-9.
He stressed that the media sector has proven its invaluable contribution in strengthening disaster risk communication to avoid the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.
More than a hundred information officers and media practitioners in the Zamboanga Peninsula region underwent virtual orientation on Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM).
The activity is part of the National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) spearheaded by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD)-9 in coordination with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-9.
With the theme "Tamang Pamamahala't Kahandaan, Kaalaman at Pagtutulungan sa Sakuna at Pandemya'y Kalasag ng Bayan", the activity hopes to further capacitate media and information officers in disaster risk awareness and communication to contribute in strengthening resiliency of the public.
Meanwhile, PIA-9 Regional Director Noemi Edaga stressed the importance of good planning and collaborating especially with the looming threat of natural disasters amidst the COVID-19 crisis in her message during the kick-off virtual program of the NDRM 2021.
"The month of July is a good reminder for us to be disaster resilient. Our planning connotes our level of vigilance. Our preparedness spells our survivability in case of a disaster," she said.
Sources said that the main purpose of communicating risks is to inform people about the potential hazards related to a particular condition or activity. It involves a two-way exchange of information between the parties likely to be affected. The communicator should engage all of them and respond to questions and concerns. Communicators apply practical and scientific principles to interact with both parties effectively, especially during controversial or critical situations. (RVC/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)
